Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1887-10-09
GEORGE.
continued from First Page

IN gl0WlDS cOiOIsr tnc Sioiiee anu oolISuIo
of that land of dreamy bliss and sensuous
languor to which the prov of the Brontes
would soon be turned. Judging from his
later works of fiction, such as "PrCgyeSs
and Poverty" it may easily be imagined
the loyeliness of the dark eyed selOritas,
the balminess of the atmosphere, the
wealth of fruit and flower and the delights
of all the senses lost nothing in their tell
ing. =.
But while the recruiting of the army of
conquest was going on, a new scheme was
devised by the adventures, which was
nothing more nor less than the capture OF
one of the Panama steamers, an exploit
which the laws of the United States, In
bold aud uncompromising terms, call
piracy. 1t must be remembered that the
proposed expedition, with its concomi-
tants, antedated the completion of the
Pacific railway, and that at this time all
treasure shipments from California to New
York were made by way of Panama.
MANY of these shipments were very
large, it being no unusual thing
for a steamer to carry away from
81. 600, 600 to So, 200, 900 The trick was an
easy one, and had every promise of sue
cess. To run down the coast with the
Brontes, to lie in the track OF the south
ward-bound steamer, and then on her APP
pearance 10 heaye her to with shot, board
her and seize the treasure, would have been
but child's play for the band Of desperadoes
which had gathered around Lieutenant
Henry George and his fellows. To aid in
this scheme several cannon were purchas-
ha WI
would serve i'll case Of need to convert the
peaceful old lumberman into snip OF war,
at least in appearance, aud would be sui
ticient TO bring Pacific Mail steamer 10
halt.
1t was not the purpose OF the bold bucca-
neers to plumber the steamer. All they
wanted was the treasure, with which to
put their Mexican empire on solid Imam
cial basis. After the capture OF the money
the plan was to send the steamer on her
way, then to sail southwark with the Bron-
ties, effect landing on the west coast OF
Mexico, and then, with their stolen gold
in one hand and naked steel in the other,
to buy or cOngHer tOOthOld as occasion
might best serve.
Many old timers on the San Francisco
press yet remember the progress of the or
ganiZatiOn, and they tell with great glee
of the collection that was taken up in one
composing room for the purchase OF a
sword for their companion aud fellow la
borer. Lieutenant Henry George. Strange
to say, no one of them remembers that the
lieutenant made any attempt to decline
the gift, but was as ready and willing to
accept it as any of the other benefactions
which have in later years been forced upon
him.
Thus far into the bowels of Mexico aud
into the treasure room OF the Panama
steamer had the George expedition pro-
ceeded without impeachment. There seemed
to be nothing in their way, no stumbling
block to catch uDwary feet, no obstacle
which could not easily be surmOunted.
The gallant lieutenant was already rehears-
ing in his Imagination, 81 Am a Pirate
King" thus anticipating with the preset
ence of true genius, the creation of Gilbert
and Sullivan, when, like lightning cut of
clear sky, there fell across his pathway
that which put an end TO all his high hopes
and reduced him again to the rank of a
private citizen. The DtuS Gr mIChlaH was
a plain, ordinary policeman. In an evil
hour faint whisper OF the real objects OF the
expedition reached the ears of Jealous
patrolman-not even Il detective, but one
of the simple, blue coated, street-meaSur-
ing kind of policemen. He reported his
suspicious to headquarters aud received in
struCtiOns to work it up. The leaders OF
the expedition were Swallowed, and one
dark night, rs IL number of them were pat
ting off from shore for the Brontes, with a
bOatload of muskets and ammunition,
they we're bounced upon and taken to the
station house, where an explanation was
demanded. As soon AZ the arrest became
known the army OF occupation quartered
on the Brontes disbanded with a
CELEBRITY which was ~ commendable
as amusing Saure qWi pcw was
the order OF the day, and IN an inCred-
IDLY short space OF time the deserted YES
sci swungat her anchors with no trace OF
the band of heroes which had manned
her
The examination of the captured chief
tains was naturally barren OF any result,
except the Squelching of the expedition,
As no overt act OF piracy had been commit
ted. The chief police sagely deci led that
if number of gentlemen chose to place
themselves with chartering a vessel aud
buying rusty muskctS and honey combed
howitzers, and stopped there, no harm had
been done; so he released the captives,
with n warning not to do so again; and so
ended, for that time, Lieutenant Georges
dream of conquest and of founding State
IN Mexico. For some months no one
could be found who would admit having
had any connection with the affair, or
even any knowledge of it, but the secre;
was shared by too many Ia he well kept,
and before long everybody who cared to
make inquiry knew Of the whole scheme,
and Of the prominent part which Henry
George had played IN its organization.
But what 10 do next was now the prob
lem with which the eX-lieutenant was
called on to contend AbOnt this time he
seems to have made move from the COM
posing room to the local room, and for
some time he was reporting on one or an
other Of the California papers. In 1869
he went to Sacramento and secured a posi-
ton on the capitol Register, a journal
owned and controlled by Ex-Governor
Bigler. The politics of the Register were
Democratic. 4 short time after George
went on the paper Governor Bigler was
taken sick, and George was put Temporal
rily into editorial charge. During his Oc-
cupanCy Of the position he wrote and pub
lished au editorial which, for its poo
Chinese sentiment was simply iucOmpara-
ole. The argument which he used WAS
that it WAS urqutStionable that IN time
the Chinese would become naturalizad
citizens; that If this great and glorious
feat were accomplished by the Republican
party, the new citizens would naturally
vote with that party, aud therefore, that
it was the boundIn duty OF the Democratic
party to take the initiative, work for the
naturalization Of the Chinese, and thus
secure Tor all time to come the Monaghan
vote
This sort of Democracy, however, was
little too highly favored to suit Governor
Bigler's palate, whose disgust and rage on
reading the editorial article were so great
that they operated as counter irritant
aud cured him of his fever, and he straight
way arose, rushed to the Office of the Reg
lister and incOntinently depOsed his pro-
Mongolian editor and presented him wirh
with an indefinite leave Of absence